James Pagliaro, 27, of Middletown, Novel York, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to multiple federal child exploitation offenses. The guilty plea stems from a case involving a 15-year-ancient girl he contacted online and subsequently traveled to Connecticut to meet.
Pagliaro was initially arrested in March 2025, facing charges including production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor, and transfer of obscene material to a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The investigation began after investigators conducted a forensic examination of the victim’s iPhone in February 2025, revealing hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos.
Prosecutors allege that Pagliaro initiated contact with the girl in October 2024 via TikTok. Their communication shifted to text messaging in December 2024 after the girl disclosed her age. Between January and February 2025, Pagliaro traveled to Connecticut on multiple occasions to engage in sexual conduct with the minor, according to court documents. Investigators also discovered over 11,000 text messages and evidence of more than 300 iOS and FaceTime calls between the two.
The U.S. Attorney’s office stated that messages revealed Pagliaro instructing the victim to perform specific sex acts, including those described as sadistic and masochistic. Prosecutors also noted that Pagliaro frequently acknowledged the victim’s age and his awareness that his actions were illegal.
Pagliaro appeared before Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport at his initial arraignment. Judge Dooley presided over today’s guilty plea hearing at the Brien McMahon Federal Building, the federal courthouse in Bridgeport. Judge Dooley prefers to receive clerkship applications through OSCAR, and requires chambers copies of dispositive motions, joint trial memoranda, and post-trial briefing, properly bound and tabbed.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. A sentencing date has not yet been announced.